Tim Millard Launches Otaku Media
Last day filming behind the scenes on set of the Big Bang Theory with the amazing crew from Monkey Deux. (L to R: Jorge, Tim, Grant, and Alan)
On the Supernatural Men of Letters set
After 13 years at Warner Bros. Home Entertainment, creative executive Tim Millard is launching his own company, Otaku Media, a digital media company focused on podcasts and online videos, as well as traditional extras. “It was pretty obvious that digital was the future back in 2015. So we worked with marketing to shift our strategy for TV extras to span the whole season, instead of the traditional extras content that was produced at the end of the season for the DVD and Blu-ray,” said Mr. Millard. “That created a more direct engagement with the fans. I’m excited to double down on this strategy through my new company.”
Mr. Millard began his tenure at Warner Home Video in 2007, working on the Home Video extras for Two and a Half Men as it ascended to become the #1 comedy in the US. “It was the early days of TV on DVD, so we had some challenges convincing Chuck (Lorre) that he should allow us on set to film behind the scenes,” Mr. Millard recounts with a smile. “There wasn’t an awareness yet that giving fans a peek into how a traditional sitcom is filmed was of any interest. But we believed that the same interest fans have in attending a live taping would be there when they bought the DVD. And we were right.”
In 2008 Mr. Millard began collaborating with another show that was finally solidifying an audience on the CW, Supernatural. “No one expected this show to last, so there was a real sense of risk-taking,” said Mr. Millard. “And because of that, the producers were open to working with Home Video on any extras that could help promote the show. And I think Eric Kripke was a fan of movie extras, so he embraced our ideas.” The ensuing years would lead to ever-increasing sales of Supernatural on DVD and Blu-Ray, allowing for bigger budgets for extras. “Usually sales would start to slow after four or five years, but Supernatural had staying power. That allowed us to create some groundbreaking extras, including a 3-D Drive-in Interactive Theater Experience in season 7, and a hilarious mockumentary along with an Interactive Tour of the Men of Letters Set in Season 9. These were theatrical level extras on a TV release.”
After a historic fifteen-year run, Supernatural will release the final season and a Complete Series box set in May 2021. “It’s satisfying to work with a show for so long,” said Mr. Millard. “And considering the challenges created by the pandemic, I think we produced an amazing package of extras for the fans.”
A highlight of Mr. Millard’s time at Warner Bros was working on another Chuck Lorre sitcom, The Big Bang Theory. “Season one ended early because of the Writers Guild strike, so there wasn’t much opportunity to do extras the first year. But by the middle of the second year, everyone could sense that the show was going to be a big hit.” The show would go on to become the #1 comedy in the world. “By this time we knew what appetite fans had for TV extras, and then we saw how the show was embraced by the Comic-Con fans. We hoped it would translate to Home Video and boy, did it ever.”
The Big Bang Theory was a perennial best seller for Warner Home Video for most of its twelve-year run. “Just an amazing cast and crew to work with,” said Mr. Millard. “I think the extra I will remember the most is when we had a fan contest in season 7. The show was just so gracious in providing the fans access to the set and cast. And we were able to film it all for the DVD and Blu-ray release so that fans everywhere could get a feel for what the winners experienced.” The Big Bang Theory wrapped up a twelve-year run in 2019 and released a complete box set later that year. “The box set exclusives were a blast to work on,” said Mr. Millard, “ but the featurette going behind the scenes on the last episode just nailed it. You can’t watch it as a fan of the show without shedding a few tears.” The Last Days of The Big Bang Theory went on to win a Gold Clio award.
Other notable titles during Mr. Millard’s tenure at WB include fan favorites Chuck, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, The Vampire Diaries, The 100, Westworld, Young Sheldon, and Shameless.
“It’s been a great run, and I’ve had a tremendous amount of success,” said Mr. Millard. “I’m forever grateful for my time at Warner Bros, and the opportunity to work with some of the most talented people in the business.”